This New York Times cooking recipe was a nice combination of flavors and textures. We did what many reviewers suggested and served it decomposed for assembly tableside. Each component of this dish could easily be made ahead and served a day or two later.

Ingredients
~1.5 lb salmon fillets
Olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin, divided
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
2 limes, 1 zested and juiced, the other quartered for garnish

1½ cups cooked farro (~2 cups dry, cooked)
½ cup pistachios
2 cups coarsely chopped mixed fresh cilantro, mint, and parsley
⅓ cup golden raisins
1 serrano chile, sliced into rings

For the dressing:
1½ teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger
½ teaspoon honey
⅓ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more

Roast pistachios in a skillet over medium heat.

In a large bowl, combine cooled/drained cooked farro, pistachios, raisins, herbs, and chiles; toss to combine.

This is a modified recipe of "Mussels à la Buzara", trying to replicate a dish from http://www.dubravka1836.hr/

2 lbs mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded; dispose of any mussels with shells that stay open.
2 medium tomatoes, diced
¼ cup breadcrumbs
4 garlic cloves, minced or sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
½ cup parsley, chopped
olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Via Dorie Greenspan, these quick blender savory pancakes could be used in many interesting ways. Combines nicely with this avocado and cucumber salad for a meat-free, heavy protein meal.

Pancakes
1 cup home-cooked or canned no-salt-added chickpeas, drained, 1/4 cup of their liquid reserved
1/2 cup tahini
2 cloves garlic, cut in half lengthwise (germ removed)

Delicious and easy ... if you can find fresh chick peas (garbanzo beans).

2 cups fresh garbanzo beans, washed
olive oil to coat pan
pat butter (if desired, for flavor)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp water

Heat oil and butter in sautee pan. Add garbanzo beans in a single layer. Add water and lemon juice. Cover. Cook about 4 minutes, or until undersides of bean start to brown and burn. Only shake side to side while cooking.

Pour into a bowl (with oil/juices) and serve. Eat sort of like edamame. Lick fingers.

I never met a yogurt dip I didn't like. Seriously. If there's ever one on a menu, I order it. I will slather it on everything, especially middle eastern and mediterranean foods.

Instead of proliferating pages and pages of yogurt dip recipes, I've decided to collect them all here. In most cases, the dips will be better on the second day once the flavors have had a chance to marry.

This was a very yummy grilled lamb recipes. The lamb were tender and the mint glaze was excellent on top.

Adapted from a blog that apparently isn't public anymore.